We were lucky to catch up with Alexandra Ingram recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alexandra , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My parents heavily influenced my life and career over the years, which I am forever grateful for. I was blessed to have a mixture between my dad who was about hard work, building from the ground up, professionalism, solving problems, business, and being resourceful. My mom exudes compassion, empathy, connecting to the intangibles in people, an effective listener, and focusing on the bigger picture in life. As a child, I did not fully understand this balance in my parents and how each individual shows up differently in this world. We all bring value to this world and to the people in our community. I have learned to go after what God has for me, operate in my purpose, and stay true to myself because of my parents.

I struggled a lot with my confidence growing up. I’ll never forget when my mom broke things down to me and she said “do not worry about what others are doing because God has you where you belong. If it takes you longer to understand or complete something, then you do what you need to do to get it done!” That has always stuck with me and I carry it with me as an adult operating in my personal and professional journey.

I remember as a young adult borrowing money from my parents for a summer class and my dad told me to write up an agreement, including all details of the arrangement to pay the money back. Now, at that time my reaction was like, WHAT?! This is not a business transaction! Until this day, we joke about it with my parents. Hindsight is always 20/20…I did not realize it then, but my dad was instilling professionalism, being a woman of my word, teaching ways to alleviate money issues between family, and accountability.

I believe I have a perfect mix of relatability with people while in business because of my parents. They sacrificed a lot for my family and made sure that my siblings and I had a solid foundation to prepare us for the real world. My parents are my motivation and to know that they are proud of me, means the world.

Alexandra , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Allow me to reintroduce myself *cues Jay Z*… My name is Alexandra Ingram – a connector, a resource, a motivator, and ultimately a leader. I am currently the Founder and Executive Director of Make the Distinction – a non profit organization in Philadelphia, PA. Our mission is to prepare girls between the ages of 13-18 with lifelong skills in the areas of personal and professional development, so that they can become leaders in their communities. I always knew I was a helper and that I could connect with anyone, especially young people. It all started at my very first job as a Lifeguard and Jr. Counselor at Camp Nazarene. Even though I was 15, I had the ability to connect with the younger kids and others acknowledged my leadership skills at such a young age. I knew I liked to help others, I was an effective listener, and others usually approached me with “What’s your perspective on xyx?” or “What do you think I could have done differently?” over the years. I did not realize the level of impact I had… When I spoke, many listened and respected what I had to say – this spoke volumes.
I played sports, was a student leader at Kutztown University, participated in service trips to New Orleans and Nicaragua, served as a Corps Member with Americorps City Year in Miami and became a mentor in various spaces. I’ve observed others in leadership roles, I took mental notes of the relationships built (or not built), I saw what worked and what didn’t work. I knew the influence (mentorship) these environments had on me, especially when I struggled with self confidence. I always knew I was different than many, but never truly OWNED it. Thus, it took mentors to speak life into me.
This is where Make the Distinction became an idea! Creating a nurturing space to speak life into young ladies, remind them of their worth, instill confidence so they are prepared to walk into any space and command their presence. We host various workshops and programs (in and outside of schools) in the areas of leadership development, career readiness, personal wellness, financial literacy, and parenting workshops. Girls in our organization have continued onto college and into the working world with increased confidence in public speaking, having the ability to advocate for themselves, started their own business, involved in community initiatives, and holding leadership positions.

We held a mental health panel discussion a few years back and to not only witness, but feel the impact in the room was powerful. Teens, parents, and community organizers had real conversations around parent-child relationships and the effects it can have on person’s mental health. This was our first major event, bringing people of all different backgrounds together for an open discussion. I was very proud of a specific participant of Make the Distinction at that time who initiated and implemented a donation drive (clothes, books, and toiletries) for girls who were placed in a specific behavioral health facility in Philadelphia – A full circle moment! We listened, considered her ideas and understood the passion behind them. It was my job to help see her plans through and walk her through the appropriate steps. Thus, never underestimate the power of a young person; you can either contribute to their growth or stunt the process…choose wisely!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

We can be our worst critics even when others are not speaking negatively to us. For a long period of time (I still sometimes fall short of these thoughts) I did not believe that I belonged in the “room.” “Did I have enough experience?” “Do I know the right people?” “My organization is not as big as the others.” “Is my personal story impactful?” “Maybe being here is an accident.” Unlearning this behavior was a MUST! What you think tends to appear in the physical… Too much overthinking and negative self talk can potentially ruin opportunities that you didn’t realize was coming your way. I learned that I had to show up with confidence and remind myself each day that I belong in every room I walk into. I didn’t just randomly make it here; I worked so hard to build Make the Distinction from the ground up.I took this as a challenge because not only is the younger generation looking up to me, but everyone who is invested in Make the Distinction is trusting my leadership. Our childhood experiences can have a funny way in creeping into our adulthood. Acknowledge those thoughts and remind yourself of how far you have come – What is for you, is for you.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Literally, doing the work has helped build my reputation in the social work/nonprofit sector. Networking and building relationships wherever I go contributes to my reputation as well. I have been working with youth for over 10 years and my kids are brutally honest. They will be the first to let you know how they feel, what they like, and don’t like – which makes them a good judge of character when it comes to adults in their lives. It warms my heart when I catch up with former students or run into them years later in public. I try my best to lead by example, show up when I say I will, and allow impact to be the driving force. When parents, school administrators, community leaders, donors, and supporters of Make the Distinction see the quality and consistency, they trust your level of work. Therefore, they will refer your services and speak highly of what you represent.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.makethedistinction.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mtdistinction/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mtdistinction/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexingrammsw/
• Youtube: http://youtube.com/@Mtdistinction
• Other: Personal Instagram: @thereal_ingram Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mtdistinction